We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
May, 1931] SOUND FlLMS IN HUNGARY 555
that the mechanism of the sound reproducing apparatus is of faulty design. Apparently, in designing this part of the machine the manufacturers had only one object in mind, viz., that the sound track should pass exactly over that portion of the sound reproducing device where the illuminated slit is located and at a uniform speed. Smooth passage of the film and uniform contact with the guide tracks as well as more uniform motion of the sprockets was sought and attained.
Correct positioning of the film is assured by using the bow-shaped guide track against which the film is held while it passes the slit. The film is subjected to greater friction because of the large additional surface of contact in the sound track guides and consequently there is a greater strain on the film loop. Extra sprockets located beneath the reproducer unit also increase the wear.
It did not occur to the designers, however, to arrange these sprockets in such a manner that the film loop does not form too sharp a curve. As it is, the film which has already become too dry, is liable to jump off the teeth of the sprocket where it turns sharply, especially at poorly-made splices. In this way both the picture and sound record are frequently damaged by the sprocket teeth. On some of the American machines ordinary pressed sprocket wheels have been used for this purpose, the teeth of which do not even conform to the international standards, and so cause continual damage to the film.
It is also a mistake to provide an additional guide roller in the lower magazine since even those films which have a disk sound record have to pass over five sprocket wheels, instead of over three as formerly, increasing the risk of damaging the perforations.
The friction drive on the take-up spindles of some American machines is also wrongly designed, putting such a strain on the film as to cause the perforations to break as they pass over the hold-back sprocket. On some machines equipped with film sound reproducers, however, the sprocket wheels are provided with 32 teeth instead of 16, permitting the film to be engaged by 20 teeth. The purpose of this kind of sprocket is to insure smooth motion at the sound aperture and is another indication of the prevailing tendency to improve the sound reproduction at the cost of extra wear on the film. The fact that the film is engaged by 20 teeth can, however, cause such considerable damage as to reduce the life of the film by half, and for this reason it is essential that these mechanisms be redesigned.